Friday, October 11, 2019

October 7th - 11th

Last Friday, we had the Blessing of the Animals.  Many of our older friends brought their turtles, cats, dogs, reptiles and bunnies.  Thank you to Alexandra for sharing her dog Abby with us.




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In the Nursery 3 class we spend a lot of time developing our fine motor skills.  Each activity helps to strengthen a child's skills, develop hand-eye coordination and refine the pincer grasp.  All things that will help them learn to write!

This week we did spider stacking.  Children were given a handful of spiders and then had to stack them one by one onto straws.


At home, you too, can provide fine motor opportunities.  Some easy things to do are:

  • Playing with Play Doh
  • Cutting and Pasting
  • coloring
  • knobbed puzzles
  • Zippering coats (you engage the zipper and have the child pull it up)
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On Thursday, We had a Pep Rally to support the HCA Cross Country Team.  GO DRAGONS!




Things to do at home

  • Go on a color or shape hunt when you are driving in the car.
  • READ! READ! READ!
  • Color
  • Build with blocks or legos
  • Look at family photos together
  • Cook or Bake together
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Fostering a child's independence is an important aspect to development.  In Nursery 3 the children begin their independence journey.  Many of the children are struggling in pulling up their pants after using the bathroom.  I am always willing to assist after they have given it a good try; I ask that you do the same.  Encourage them to try themselves and then praise them for the attempt/completed task.

SPECIALS
GYM is on days 2, 5 and 6 - CHILDREN MUST HAVE SHOES THAT LACE/VELCRO TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS FOR THEIR SAFETY. 
Music is on days 1 and 3
Library is on day 4
STEAM is on day 6

Art is day 1



HALLOWEEN MISSION PARTY
10-31-19      8:15 am - Noon

Children should wear their costumes and sneakers to school. They will not be changing.  Please keep all costume "weapons" , small accessories, and fancy shoes at home.  


Morning schedule: 

  • 7:50 a.m.: Students arrive at regular arrival time.
  • Parents are welcome to arrive with their children and wait in the cafeteria for the parade to begin.
  • 8:15 a.m.: Costume parade
  • Approximately 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Students play Halloween games and activities with their teachers and classmates.
  • Parents are welcome to stay while students enjoy these activities; however, they are not required to stay.
  • There will be breakfast foods available in the cafeteria as well as a bake sale.
  • The Book Fair also will be open during the Mission Party for shopping.
  • Spirit wear will be available for purchase. Cash or check will be accepted.
  • 12:00 p.m.: Dismissal

NOTE: Due to the half-day schedule on Oct. 31, there will be no lunch period or lunch service.

Please be on the lookout for a signup genius from the Parents' Association. The Parents' Association will be looking for volunteers to help with some Halloween activities and make baked goods for the bake sale.


Thank you for your continued support!


Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Devenney


Friday, October 4, 2019

September 30 - October 4



One of my favorite sensory activities to do with three years old is shaving cream!

They love to squish it around in their little hands.  Using shaving cream allows a child to engage more then one sense; touch and smell. After some free time of manipulating the shaving cream we practiced drawing circles.  This is a great pre-writing activity as well.







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For our service projects this year, the Nursery 2 and 3 students will be thanking members in our HCA community that help us daily. Our first honoree is Bernie Capuano; otherwise known as "Mr. Bernie".  Bernie helps take care of our school campus and is ALWAYS willing to lend a helping hand.  The Nursery students decorated his door to remind him just how special he is to our school community!  Thanks Mr. Bernie!


Mr. Bernie
30 Maria Montessori Quotes that will Inspire Any Mama! - Simple Living Mommy


We have been working really hard during our Montessori Work period.  At this point we work about 40 minutes before needing a break.  Sometimes individual work takes place, other times the children may work with a friend.  The children are eager to learn the Montessori lessons in our classroom.
Amelia and Alexandra working with the dressing frames.


Vienna working on the Maple leaf puzzle.

Kin and Alexandra are making block patterns.

Madison is working on 1:1 correspondence matching.

Lily is working on 1:1 correspondence matching.

Kin matched all her letters.



Elle and Alexandra made a pattern with the pink tower and brown stairs




Learning a NEW lesson: the number rods.

Charlie and Elle matching objects.
Things to do at home
  • Go on a color or shape hunt when you are driving in the car.
  • READ! READ! READ!
  • Color
  • Build with blocks or legos
  • Look at family photos together
  • Cook or bake together


Image result for child dressing clipart free
Fostering a child's independence is an important aspect to development.  In Nursery 3 the children begin their independence journey.  Many of the children are struggling in pulling up their pants after using the bathroom.  I am always willing to assist after they have given it a good try; I ask that you do the same.  Encourage them to try themselves and then praise them for the attempt/completed task.


SPECIALS
GYM is on days 2, 5 and 6 - CHILDREN MUST HAVE SHOES THAT LACE/VELCRO TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS FOR THEIR SAFETY. 
Music is on days 1 and 3
Library is on day 4
STEAM is on day 6

Art is day 1



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The HCA Early Childhood Division has its own Instagram account!  Follow us @hcadrexelhillec!


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Our class photo will be taken on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9th.  Individual pictures will be taken THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10th.  More information to follow. 


Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Devenney

Friday, September 27, 2019

September 23-September 27

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Have you heard?  This week we became scientists!

In science, we did the Skittles Experiment.  This experiment provides many investigative opportunities. Skittles are coated in food coloring and sugar. When you pour water over the skittles the color coating dissolves spreading through the water.  The color sugar dissolves into the water and then diffuses through the water, making it the color of the skittle. 





We are so fortunate to be in a community where we have time carved out of  our schedule to be a whole.  On Monday, we got together as an entire student body and met our "families".  The students worked together to create family pennants which can be seen in our cafeteria.










We got some wiggles out this week with a fun gross motor activity:
Balloon Tennis!












This week we started our combined Montessori work period with Pre-K.  We have been working very hard learning new work. 
Elle is practicing pouring

Alexandra is working on the monument match

Kin is exercising her pincer grasp

Arianna is using the knobbed cylinder

Anthony is using the knobbed cylinders

Vienna is working on an animal match

Charlie is classifying things that can be found on land, in the sea and in the air

Madison is working on the letter sounds for s,m,a and t
Image result for child dressing clipart free


Fostering a child's independence is an important aspect to development.  In Nursery 3 the children begin their independence journey.  Many of the children are struggling in pulling up their pants after using the bathroom.  I am always willing to assist after they have given it a good try; I ask that you do the same.  Encourage them to try themselves and then praise them for the attempt/completed task.


SPECIALS
GYM is on days 2, 5 and 6 - CHILDREN MUST HAVE SHOES THAT LACE/VELCRO TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS FOR THEIR SAFETY. 
Music is on days 1 and 3
Library is on day 4
STEAM is on day 6
Art is day 1



Image result for instagram clipart
The HCA Early Childhood Division has its own Instagram account!  Follow us @hcadrexelhillec!


Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Devenney

Happy Summer!

  I Did Nothing Today Author Unknown When children come home at the end of the day,  The question they're asked as they run out to play ...